Baltimore is turning the spotlight on one of its most famous literary figures this weekend as the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards returns for its ninth annual celebration.

The festival runs through Sunday, October 4, bringing Poe-inspired performances, live music, art, vendors, food, history and mystery programming to downtown Baltimore.

For the first time, the festival’s free outdoor celebration is taking place at historic Lexington Market, giving visitors a new setting for one of Baltimore’s most distinctive fall traditions.

Poe Fest Finds a New Home at Lexington Market

The move to Lexington Market comes as work continues around the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.

The main free festival is being held Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with vendors and activities filling Lexington Market Plaza and the market’s Baltimore Room.

The Poe House remains open during the weekend, while additional ticketed events are taking place at historic locations around the city.

A Weekend Built Around Baltimore’s Gothic Legacy

The festival celebrates Edgar Allan Poe’s connection to Baltimore through performances, readings, music, original artwork, books, food, living history and hands-on activities.

Visitors can also find Gothic-themed vendors and artists, meet representatives from other Poe-related historic sites and take part in the Costume POErade.

The festival’s organizers describe the event as a family-friendly celebration of Poe’s life, work and continuing influence on American literature and popular culture.

Vincent Price Documentary Gets World Premiere

One of the biggest entertainment events of the weekend took place Friday night with the world premiere of Vincent Price: What Keeps Us Alive.

The documentary explores the life and legacy of the legendary actor whose career became closely associated with Gothic and horror cinema.

Victoria Price, Vincent Price’s daughter, appeared at the premiere for a live conversation about her father’s career and legacy. The film also includes archival material and interviews with figures including John Waters, Tim Burton, Alice Cooper and Bill Hader.

A Historic New Poe Bust Comes to Baltimore

The festival is also highlighting a new bronze bust of Edgar Allan Poe created by sculptor Zenos Frudakis.

Organizers say the work represents the first major sculptural portrait of Poe given to a Baltimore site in more than a century.

Frudakis is attending the festival as a guest of honor and is scheduled to present the 2026 Saturday Visiter Awards during the weekend’s Black Cat Ball.

Mystery Tours Explore Poe’s Final Days

Poe fans looking for a deeper connection to Baltimore’s history can take part in guided Death Weekend Bus Tours.

The two-hour tours explore locations connected to Poe’s final days in Baltimore, including places associated with where he was found, died and was buried.

The weekend also includes the History of Mystery exhibition at Westminster Hall, which examines Poe’s role in the development of detective fiction.

The Festival Has Plenty of Live Entertainment

The free festival features dramatic readings, live music and performances throughout the weekend.

Special guests include the Charm City Ghostbusters, nerdcore artist MC Lars and YouTube personality Chad the Bird.

The festival also features the RavenBeer Garden and a variety of Gothic vendors, giving visitors plenty to explore between performances and literary programming.

Baltimore Marks Major Poe Anniversaries

This year’s festival also connects with several important dates in Poe’s literary and Baltimore history.

The celebration marks the 177th anniversary of Poe’s death in Baltimore. Organizers are also highlighting anniversaries connected to The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Cask of Amontillado.

Those milestones give the 2026 festival an especially strong literary focus while keeping the weekend rooted in Baltimore’s long relationship with Poe.

Poe House Remains at the Center of the Celebration

Although the main festival has moved to Lexington Market, the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum remains an important part of the weekend.

Tours continue at the historic house, while proceeds from ticketed festival programs support the museum and its planned expansion.

The festival also provides visitors with shuttle connections between Poe-related destinations and other downtown locations during the weekend.

A Distinctly Baltimore October Tradition

The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival gives Baltimore a unique way to kick off the Halloween season while celebrating one of America’s most recognizable literary figures.

With free outdoor programming, Gothic art, live performances, historic tours and a Hollywood documentary premiere, the 2026 festival combines literature and pop culture in a distinctly Baltimore setting.

The free festival continues Sunday, October 4, at Lexington Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with additional ticketed events taking place at locations throughout the city.